Page 22 - Glass-Technology International no. 2/2018

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EDGETECH
®
SUPER SPACER SPACERS

AT FENSTERBAU FRONTALE 2018
At the recently-held 2018 edition
of fensterbau frontale, discussions
regarding all aspects of digitisation, convinced that new developments in insulating glass windows. They
production automation, innovative such as quadruple insulating glaz- significantly reduce energy loss to the
window solutions and, of course, the ing and complex superstructures outside, largely prevent condensation
perennial issue of energy efficiency, with integrated, intelligent functions and also contribute to the lifespan of
were the marked focus of attention. can only be produced economically a window.
The age of flexible spacers has now and precisely with a high degree Edgetech Europe GmbH, located
arrived in the form of the window of automation in combination with in Heinsberg Germany, is a fully-
generation 4.0 according to warm flexible spacers. A robot can set the owned subsidiary of Quanex Building
edge specialist Edgetech. Therefore foam-based products in parallel down Products Corporation, a leading global
the main focus of the Edgetech trade to the last millimetre in a matter of provider of energy-efficient com-
show presentation was on the techni- seconds, thus guaranteeing an impec- ponents such as window and door
®
cal benefits of the Super Spacer cable and tight edge compound. profile systems, flexible insulating-
spacers during processing in auto- “Automation and digitisation will also glass spacers, edge seals for photo-
matic production lines, in addition provide medium-sized window pro- voltaic modules, wooden floors and
to the topic of “preventing thermal ducers with competitive advantages in ceiling profiles, as well as window and
bridges.” the medium term,” states technology door grilles, with its head offices in
In 1989 the Warm Edge pioneer specialist Christoph Rubel, “offering Houston, Texas. Based on turnover
launched the first flexible struc- high-quality products and flexible Edgetech/Quanex is the world’s larg-
tural foam spacer with an integrated manufacturing that respond quickly est manufacturer of spacers. Edget-
desiccant onto the market. The to customer requirements and eco- ech Europe GmbH is a sales location
company now supplies some 300 nomically produce smaller series.” for the markets in continental Europe
®
million metres of the product a year Edgetech’s Super Spacer flexible and one of the three worldwide Edg-
to more than 90 countries. At the foam-based spacer systems act as etech production plants, with a total
start of the 1990s a large section of energy-efficient warm edge spacers of 450 employees and 16 extruders.
the industry also started investing in
the automation of individual manu-
facturing steps. Due to a shortage of
skilled workers and high competitive GLASSTECH ASIA 2018 & FENESTRATION ASIA 2018
pressures, many window produc-
ers are now faced with the decision RETURN TO MALAYSIA
of whether to move in the direction
of full automation whilst the warm Glasstech Asia 2018 returns to a thriv-
edge has at the same time established ing glass industry in Malaysia after five
itself as an energy-efficient edge seal years of travelling around the Asia-Pa-
compound for windows,” explains cific region. As one of the must-attend
Joachim Stoss, Managing Director of industry events of the year, Glasstech
the German Edgetech Europe GmbH Asia 2018 will be held at Malaysia International Trade & Exhibition Centre
company based in Heinsberg. (MITEC), Malaysia’s largest exhibition space.
“So flexible spacers like Super Co-organised by Conference & Exhibition Management Services Pte Ltd (CEMS)
®
Spacer , are now experiencing a new and Singapore Glass Association (SGA), the 16th edition will be co-hosted by
lease of life so to speak,” he contin- Malaysia Glass Association (MGA) and Safety Glass Processors Association of
ues, “because in view of the manu- Malaysia (SGPAM).
facturing technology involved, they Glasstech Asia 2018 will
outperform rigid spacers in terms of provide regional players deeper
their flexibility, application speed and insights into the glass manu-
precision.” facturing, processing, products
The company based in Heinsberg is and material sectors.

20 Glass-Technology International 2/2018